USDA releases new information about confirmed BSE case in California

A dairy cow that tested positive for bovine spongiform encephalopathy (BSE, also known as mad cow disease) earlier this week was euthanized after it developed lameness, according to the USDA.

In a statement released yesterday, the agency gave further details about the cow and the circumstances surrounding the positive BSE test.

Here are the latest details:

The cow was 10 years, 7 months old.

Contrary to previous reports, the USDA confirmed the cow became lame, causing it to be euthanized.

The USDA also released addition information regarding the timeline of the BSE confirmation. The cow tested as part of a BSE surveillance program at rendering facilities. Samples from the infected animal were sent to the California Animal Health and Food Safety Laboratory for testing. It then was sent to the National Veterinary Services Laboratories on April 20 for confirmatory testing. The finding was confirmed and announced by APHIS Tuesday, according to the USDA.